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You’ve definitely heard of Monstera deliciosa by now—the enormous, sculptural houseplant that looks like it belongs in Mad Men and is presently featured in around 75% of all Instagram pictures from design blogs. It is admired for both its ease of growth and its beautiful looks next to a mid-century sofa. Have you ever encountered Monstera adansonii, its cousin? We truly want to introduce you, for that reason.
Because of the lacy holes and notches in its leaves, monsteras are frequently referred to as Swiss cheese plants or vines, and adansonii is probably the cheesiest of them all. In contrast to the deliciosa, it has smaller, more fragile, and more perforated leaves. Adansonii has a trailing characteristic that makes it an ideal choice for hanging baskets or training around a room even though all Monsteras are regarded as vines.
Is adansonii a plant that trails?
Most gardeners desire fast-growing, hardy plants that require little maintenance due to their hectic schedules and busy lives. One such plant is Monstera adansonii. Monstera adansonii is a tropical plant that was originally discovered in the forests of Mexico and Panama. It has distinctive and eye-catching leaves and grows swiftly with no maintenance.
The potential of Monstera adansonii to develop as a climbing and trailing plant is one of its distinguishing characteristics. This means that you can teach Monstera adansonii to climb a wall, trellis, or pole, or you can grow it like a vine in a hanging basket. This versatility, which dates back to the plant’s wild roots, gives Monstera adansonii owners some creative possibilities to decorate their house or place of business.
Epiphytes are plants that grow on the surface of other plants, and Monstera adansonii belongs to this group. Epiphytes collaborate with other plants in a way, employing them as a support system and drawing moisture and oxygen from the leaves.
However, this is not a self-centered relationship. By obtaining nutrients from trash or other creatures that may otherwise hurt the host plant, epiphytes not only don’t harm their hosts but also assist in clearing the space around them.
Many of these plants are vines that may be found climbing trees in jungle ecosystems, while some of them are funguses and other types of organisms. Aerial roots enable some vining plants, like Monstera adansonii, to climb.
Aerial roots, as their name implies, develop above the soil in the open air, and in addition to assisting plants in attaching to objects, they also help plants collect nutrients and water. These roots can grow along the entire length of the plant, not just at the bottom, and they extend from the plant’s stems.
Since a Monstera adansonii grows in this manner naturally, many gardeners enjoy experimenting with different methods to encourage their Swiss Cheese plants to climb surfaces in their home or workplace, taking over bookcases, stairwells, and even walls.
Is Monstera a plant that trails?
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A common and simple-to-care-for houseplant, Monstera adansonii is distinguished by its trailing split leaves.
The Swiss cheese plant, Swiss cheese monstera, Adanson’s monstera, and Monstera monkey mask are some of its other frequent names.
Smaller than the well-known Monstera deliciosa, the Monstera adansonii (also often named Swiss cheese plant). The much rarer member of the family, Monstera obliqua, is frequently mistaken for the adansonii.
The Monstera adansonii plant can flourish indoors with the correct care.
The Monstera adansonii will be ideal for you if you adore the appearance of a Monstera deliciosa but lack the necessary room. While it has a comparable appearance and grows more slowly and modestly, it is ideal for smaller places.
Are the Monstera adansonii vines?
The huge, heart-shaped leaves of the Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii), which have holes as the plant gets older, are what give the plant its common name (in a process called fenestration). The leaves resemble Swiss cheese as a result. The Swiss cheese plant, a tropical perennial that is native to Central and South America, is often grown indoors.
Monstera adansonii has a rapid growth rate and a vining habit similar to that of its cousin Monstera deliciosa, often known as the Swiss cheese plant. But if grown indoors in a container, it will stay at a manageable size. Swiss cheese plants can be potted at any time and are commonly grown from young nursery plants when grown as indoor plants. It’s vital to remember that Monstera plants are poisonous to pets in all sections, so take caution when growing them indoors.
How is Monstera adansonii made to climb?
You must provide it with something to climb. The most typical alternative to moss poles is a wooden or metal trellis, although other options include bamboo stakes, bits of wood or bark, metal or wooden trellises, and topiary forms. Or, like I did, you may make your own trellis!
You need a support strategy, such as the ones mentioned above, and something to fasten the stems to. The support you select and the desired aesthetic will both affect how you train it. I want to climb on half of mine and trail on the other.
To secure it to the support, use twine, string, or a tie of some sort. It doesn’t cling on on its own. You might be able to weave it in and out to achieve the desired look, but I’ve always found that adding one or two ties—or even more—allows the stems to face and develop in the desired directions.
There were just two long stems left on my Swiss Cheese Vine at this point. One more will be trained to climb the trellis, and the others will trail.
Pruning is used to achieve this. Tip trimming will work to maintain your plant bushy if you start doing it sooner. You can propagate it using the stem cutting method in water or a light soil mixture and replant it if it is too lanky.
No, although a lot of people do, particularly when using a Monstera delicosa. You might use a less “robust choice” like I did because the Monstera adansonii stems are significantly thinner.
Within the next few months, you’ll receive a care post on this lovely, quickly expanding plant. And now that you know how to train a Monstera adansonii, you can do so!
Are Monsteras plants that climb?
The split leaf philodendron is also known as the Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa). It is a beautiful climbing plant with big leaves that employs aerial roots as vertical supports. But unlike ivy, it doesn’t have suckers or clinging roots to help it pull itself up. It has a wide variety of different fauna to develop and support it in its natural habitat. However, as a houseplant, it requires a pole to assist train it upward. The use of a moss pole plant support improves the appearance of the tropical setting and hides the woody stake. Following is some information on creating and utilizing a support for cheese plants.
What distinguishes Monstera adansonii from deliciosa?
Avoid being duped by the many fraudulent adverts that are present, whether they are false intentionally or unintentionally. The Monstera adansonii and deliciosa can be distinguished from one another by the following characteristics.
Size of the Leaf
The size of the leaves is one of the key distinctions between Monstera deliciosa and adansonii.
Compared to deliciosa, adansonii often has smaller leaves. The ovate leaves of adansonii can only reach a length of 25–70 cm (10–12 in).
While its lamina generally enlarges to a width that is between 6 and 18 inches and 15 to 45 centimeters wide.
While deliciosa shines out with shiny, green foliage that can appear enormous.
Usually, its leaves are 25–90 cm (10–35 in) long and 25–70 cm (10–30 in) wide when they first appear. In their natural environment, leaves can potentially grow to a height of 100 cm (40 in).
Remember that under some conditions, the leaf size fluctuates. As a result, in ideal conditions with enough water, sunlight, and fertilizer, plant leaves may appear large. If not, leaves could get smaller.
Hole in the Leaves
The gaps between Monstera deliciosa and adansonii are a second identifying characteristic. These two types of holes have different sizes, shapes, and counts. International Aroid Society, n.d.
Adansonii has holes that vary in size and form but are typically elliptical in shape.
On each side of the leaf midrib, the series of holes are smaller but more frequent. Adansonii leaves can develop between 8 and 16 holes.
On the other side, Deliciosa has much longer perforations that are between 0.5 and 0.8 cm long.
These holes often have an oblong shape and a semi-round shape. The deliciosa also has fewer holes, with 1 to 5 on each side of a leaf.
So you may pretty much be sure that a Monstera is an adansonii if it contains a cluster of thin and entire incisions.
It appears that you have deliciosa if your plant has fewer holes than is typical for the species.
Just remember that as the Monstera becomes older, the perforations in the leaves appear. As a result, a younger plant may look practically uncut while it is young.
Edges of the Leaves
Along with being different in size and number of holes, Monstera deliciosa and adansonii leaves also differ in how they are edged.
Adansonii resembles those common plants with rounded edges. Furthermore, if you trace the trail through its leaves from both sides, it will be straight and uninterrupted.
This isn’t like the deliciosa. There will be gaps because deliciosa has perforations between the main leaf veins that run from the midrib to the edges. The leaf boundary will look uneven and asymmetrical while being smooth.
Geniculum
The geniculum of the Monstera deliciosa is its most distinctive characteristic. The portion of the plant that connects a leaf to a petiole or stem is referred to as a geniculum.
The deliciosa will get ruffles after it grows and reaches semi- or full maturity.
The upper leaf base’s two sides will develop complex waves. This curved part is similar to a plant muscle that gives flexibility, such as the ability to move with the wind.
Whether they are in their early or mature stages, adansonii never grow a wrinkled geniculum like deliciosa does. Its petiole and leaf will always unite at a straight, smooth juncture.
Growth Habit
You might be able to tell an adansonii from a deliciosa by looking at the Monstera’s growth pattern.
A monstera deliciosa has a propensity for spreading out. This plant has a propensity to sprawl widely, expanding its stems to match. They acclimate slowly, but finally they tend to vine.
Adansonii has a more trailing quality than deliciosa. As the preferred Monstera in hanging baskets, they stand out because to the way they stretch and hang down. They are also a good choice for training around a stand because of the way they loosely grow over a surface.
You most likely have an adansonii if your plant droops toward the ground and exhibits a vining characteristic. If your plant enjoys creeping horizontally, you may be raising a deliciosa at home in the meantime.
Plant Height
There’s a good chance you have a Monstera adansonii if your houseplant is little and cute-looking.
Adansonii vines only grow between 2 and 6 meters in length (7 to 20 feet). Compared to the deliciosa, which has a 9-meter height, this is noticeably smaller (30 feet). In its natural environment, the deliciosa might possibly grow to a greater height. (Reference: Florida University)
However, you must keep in mind that plant growth and development might differ based on a number of circumstances.
Therefore, it may be easier to identify differences between two plants if they were growing at the same period and under similar circumstances.
Price
You most likely own a Monstera adansonii if you didn’t pay a significant amount of money for your plant.
Deliciosa is substantially more expensive than an adansonii. Deliciosa is offered for sale in the market in denominations of $20 to $100. Depending on the size and quantity of leaves of the plant, this price can potentially skyrocket.
Just by looking at the pricing, you may browse Amazon and attempt to separate the deliciosa from the adansonii, and vice versa.
How do I get my Monstera to start climbing?
You must fasten the Monstera to the moss pole once it is in the pot with the plant!
This will be a little simpler if your plant is still a young one. Tie the Monstera’s stem to the pole without pulling or bending excessively, making sure the nodes touch the wet moss. As a result, the aerial roots will be encouraged to encircle and grow into the moss pole.
This technique might need to be repeated whenever there is fresh growth. You can cut or loosen the ties once the aerial roots of the Monstera are securely fastened to the moss pole.
Your Monstera might not want to bend as much to attach to the moss pole if it is already pretty mature. This will require that you go extremely gently. Once the stem is up against the moss pole, tighten the ties every week to continue dragging it in that direction.
If the aerial roots of the Monstera are particularly lengthy, it can be beneficial for you to prune portions of them back. It will be more difficult to train them onto a support the longer they are. The aerial roots will generate more roots if you cut them close to the node; these roots will then develop into the moss pole.
Mist the Moss regularly.
The moss pole will draw the air roots of Monstera naturally, but only if it is moist. Regular misting of your moss pole will help your Monstera absorb extra moisture for its large, attractive leaves.
Use VELCRO garden tie.
VELCRO garden ties are a fantastic solution for securing your Monstera to the moss pole. There is no need to be concerned about tying a knot that will be strong enough because these plant ties attach to themselves. They are simple to put on and take off, and they won’t harm your Monstera’s stem.
The stems can also be attached to the moss pole using cable tie (zip tie). At least until the support begins to get hugged by the aerial roots. I performed this procedure on my Monstera Adansonii.
How come my Monstera adansonii is so lanky?
Like all plants, a Monstera deliciosa can become sparse and lanky from a lack of sunshine. The issue itself is simple to identify, but how can you put a stop to it? How do you mend a Monstera that is “leggy” and what does that mean?
When a Monstera doesn’t receive enough light, it becomes leggy and becomes elongated and sparse. Once a leggy Monstera has been identified, it can be treated by cutting back the leggy growth and making sure the plant continues to receive enough sunshine going ahead.
It can be frightening whenever your plant starts to appear less than healthy. Leggy, fortunately, is a simple problem to resolve. So don’t be afraid! Continue reading to learn what the issue is, how to resolve it, what kind of light a Monstera requires, and how to accommodate Monsteras in low-light conditions.